Oregon Pays $295,000 To Transgender Inmate In Prison Sex Abuse Settlement
Oregon has agreed to pay $295,000 to a transgender inmate who sued over alleged sexual abuse while she was housed in a women's prison, the state confirmed recently.
The settlement resolves the inmate's civil claim without a trial. The woman, who was assigned male at birth and is serving a murder conviction, had accused parties at the facility of sexual misconduct. State officials released few details about the agreement.
The episode traces back to the inmate's placement in a women's facility and a lawsuit that challenged her treatment and safety while incarcerated. Placement of transgender prisoners in gender-segregated facilities has prompted legal fights and policy debates across the country.
Details beyond the payment amount were not disclosed. The settlement closes this particular lawsuit but is likely to feed ongoing discussion about how corrections systems handle housing and protections for transgender people in custody.
đ Key Facts
- Oregon agreed to a $295,000 settlement with inmate Zera Lola Zombie, with $95,000 to Zombie and $200,000 for attorneys' fees
- Zombie alleged repeated sexual assaults by cellmates in two male prisons and failures to protect or properly classify her as vulnerable
- A 2023 federal court order by Judge Ann Aiken designated Zombie as a vulnerable person and required single-cell housing
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